I have been interested in a 26Nosler build for a couple of years now (since they came out). I am a 99% bowhunter but figure if I ever draw an Ibex tag or one of a select few mulie draws then I will go rifle. I used to be a ballistics nut as a kid but for the last 20 years or so outside of work I would rather be shooting my bow, but want a semi-long range rig mostly for the heck of it.
When thinking long range and Ibex/Mulies the 26Nosler was my first runaway choice, however after thinking about this project over time I am not so sure a .270WSM wouldn't be a better selection. The rifle I want to build doesn't have to be model 94 nimble but I don't want a bench gun either. I am thinking a 23-24in tube on the rifle and still up in the air on muzzle break/no break. Generally I dislike breaks and don't really have an issue with rifle recoil. One of my favorite rifles is a .458 Lott, I just make sure the gun weighs enough and common sense is used, however on a lightweight rifle I go back and forth. My point is with a break the recoil of either gun will be so low and so similar I am not sure I could tell a difference.
I do not handload anymore so my ammo comparisons are factory from the 26Nosler LRAB 142gr. from Nosler Ammo advertised at 3300fps. This is from a 26in barrel.
The most direct load I can compare in the 270WSM is the 140gr load moving out at 3200fps out of a 24in barrel.
I have a feeling if both barrels were 23 or 24in then the difference between the two speed wise would be pretty slight. Now BC and SD also factor into a killing equation, but my mind wonders just how much, especially at these weights, speeds and for the animals I am targeting with this gun.
Up until a couple of years ago I shot rifle competition fairly regularly, so I do get that BC plays into bullet flight pretty steadily and as a fan of Capstick and other African authors I do get the SD argument as well, but a lot of my competitions were done with a standard military trigger and sights and our far targets were usually 600yrds iron sights. What this means I guess is that out to that range I am not sure the BC difference of these two rounds would matter or that the SD advantage of the 26Nosler would be real world applicable. I also have an extremely hard time thinking I couldn't get to at least 600yrds of ANY big game animal in the world after bowhunting as many different animals in as many different places as I have. Bow range on some is next to impossible, but 6 football fields away.... well maybe I am just cocky.
The other upside is that the short mag can be housed in a shorter, lighter action which would help starting out before all the whittling tricks start to lower the rifle weight.
Now these are just my thought but would like to hear others if I am off base on my comparisons or why the .270WSM is stacking up pretty good with the 26Nosler is sub 26in barrel rifles.
When thinking long range and Ibex/Mulies the 26Nosler was my first runaway choice, however after thinking about this project over time I am not so sure a .270WSM wouldn't be a better selection. The rifle I want to build doesn't have to be model 94 nimble but I don't want a bench gun either. I am thinking a 23-24in tube on the rifle and still up in the air on muzzle break/no break. Generally I dislike breaks and don't really have an issue with rifle recoil. One of my favorite rifles is a .458 Lott, I just make sure the gun weighs enough and common sense is used, however on a lightweight rifle I go back and forth. My point is with a break the recoil of either gun will be so low and so similar I am not sure I could tell a difference.
I do not handload anymore so my ammo comparisons are factory from the 26Nosler LRAB 142gr. from Nosler Ammo advertised at 3300fps. This is from a 26in barrel.
The most direct load I can compare in the 270WSM is the 140gr load moving out at 3200fps out of a 24in barrel.
I have a feeling if both barrels were 23 or 24in then the difference between the two speed wise would be pretty slight. Now BC and SD also factor into a killing equation, but my mind wonders just how much, especially at these weights, speeds and for the animals I am targeting with this gun.
Up until a couple of years ago I shot rifle competition fairly regularly, so I do get that BC plays into bullet flight pretty steadily and as a fan of Capstick and other African authors I do get the SD argument as well, but a lot of my competitions were done with a standard military trigger and sights and our far targets were usually 600yrds iron sights. What this means I guess is that out to that range I am not sure the BC difference of these two rounds would matter or that the SD advantage of the 26Nosler would be real world applicable. I also have an extremely hard time thinking I couldn't get to at least 600yrds of ANY big game animal in the world after bowhunting as many different animals in as many different places as I have. Bow range on some is next to impossible, but 6 football fields away.... well maybe I am just cocky.
The other upside is that the short mag can be housed in a shorter, lighter action which would help starting out before all the whittling tricks start to lower the rifle weight.
Now these are just my thought but would like to hear others if I am off base on my comparisons or why the .270WSM is stacking up pretty good with the 26Nosler is sub 26in barrel rifles.
